Ryan Pulock update: Islanders D-man returns to ice after All-Star break

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — The New York Islanders activated Ryan Pulock off long-term injured reserve on Sunday — the team’s first practice following the All-Star break. 

The 29-year-old veteran blueliner had missed the previous 24 games after suffering a lower-body injury during a Dec. 7 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets when he took a Zach Werenski shot off the ankle late in the second period. 

His injury was just the latest in an onslaught of issues with Islanders defensemen, which included considerable absences of Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield, and Sebastian Aho.

While Mayfield and Aho are back in the lineup, Pelech is day-to-day after suffering an upper-body injury from an illegal hit from Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher — prompting a five-game suspension — on Jan. 25. 

Both Pulock and Pelech are game-time decisions for Tuesday night’s clash in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.

Pulock is an invaluable top-four defenseman for New York, who attempted to supplement his loss by bringing on the likes of Robert Bortuzzo and Mike Reilly while giving Samuel Bolduc a bump in playing time. 

Bortuzzo was also bitten by the injury bug and was transferred to LTIR on Sunday.

In 25 games this season, Pulock had two goals and four assists while averaging 22:47 of ice time — a career-high — and participating on the power-play.

This is an updating story.

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